How to Store Pears

PDF download Download Article
A guide to maintaining freshness in the short or long term
PDF download Download Article

Pears are a sweet and versatile fruit that can be enjoyed alone or in a variety of dishes, including desserts and salads. It’s no wonder so many people consider them a favorite. If you want to enjoy pears well beyond when they are in season, or if you simply find yourself with more pears than you can eat right now, storing them properly can help ensure they’re fresh and flavorful when you’re ready to eat them in the short or long term.

Best Way to Store Pears

Unripe pears can be stored at room temperature for 3-4 days while they ripen. Place ripe pairs in the refrigerator for up to 12 days. To freeze pears, cut them into halves, quarters, or slices and soak them in 1 quart of water and 3 tbsp (44 mL) of lemon juice for 3 to 5 minutes. Seal the pears in bags or containers and put them in the freezer for up to 10 to 12 months.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Storing Pears for the Short Term

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Unlike most other fruit, pears are picked off the tree when they are mature, not ripe. They begin to slowly ripen from the inside out after they’ve been picked. You can check the ripeness of your pears yourself by applying gentle pressure at the top near the stem. [1] The color of your pears alone is not a good indicator for how ripe or not ripe they are.
    • If the flesh is hard when you press down, your pears are not ripe. If you plan to eat them a few days from now, purchasing unripe pears is perfectly fine.
    • If the flesh slightly gives when you press down, your pears are ripe and can be eaten right away. Softness or bruising anywhere else on a pear could indicate it is overripe and will impact the taste and texture.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Room temperature storage will allow your pears to continue the ripening process. They should be stored whole and not cut. Room temperature is 70 °F (21 °C). [2] You’ll need to check your pears daily using the pressing technique to see if they are ripe and ready to eat. Most pears ripen between 3 and 4 days after purchase. [3]
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Ripe pears will not last very long on the kitchen counter or pantry. Placing them whole in the fridge can extend their shelf life up between 5 and 12 days. [4]
    • The temperature of your refrigerator should be set at or below 40 °F (4 °C). [5]
    • If you’ve cut up your pears, wrap them tightly in a bag or container before refrigerating to limit air exposure.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Browning, bruising and blemishing are all signs that your pears are no longer desirable or safe to eat. [6] It’s possible for a bad pear to look healthy on the outside, so you’ll have to cut it open to confirm whether or not you should eat it.
    • If a pear is not rotten but just slightly overripe, it can still be used in a variety of recipes, including smoothies, jams and dressings.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Speed up the ripening process of your unripe pears by placing them in a brown bag. If you want to enjoy your pears sooner rather than later, it’s possible to speed up the ripening process. Fruits like pears produce a natural hormone known as ethylene during the ripening process. Placing your pears in a brown paper bag traps the hormone, allowing them to ripen at a faster rate. [7]
    • Placing your pears in a fruit bowl with other ethylene-producing fruits, like bananas, apples and avocados, will also speed up the ripening process.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Freezing Pears for the Long Term

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Freezing pears will allow you to enjoy their sweet taste throughout the year, even when not in season. How you cut the pears is completely up to you––cut them in halves, quarters, or slices. [8]
    • Before cutting pears, peel and core them for best results. If you’re not comfortable completing these steps with just a knife, a variety of fruit peeling and cutting tools is available to help make this step easier.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    In 1 quart of water, add either ½ tablespoon salt, ¾ teaspoon ascorbic acid, or 3 tablespoons lemon juice. After creating the mixture, add the pears, then allow them to soak for 3 to 5 minutes. [9]
    • Pre-treating the pears before storing them can significantly reduce browning. [10]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Spread them in a single layer so they all lay flat, then transfer them to the freezer on the baking sheet or tray. Allow the pears to freeze for 3 to 5 hours. Leaving them too long without being properly packaged could cause freezer burn, which could impact the taste and texture of your pears. [11]
    • Freezing the pears before placing them in their long-term storage bag or container will allow the pieces to freeze individually instead of sticking together.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    You can use plastic resealable bags, plastic containers with a lid, or even mason jars. Fill the bag or container with the pears, leaving enough room so they are not packed too tightly. Once you’ve packaged the pears, seal the bag or container. [12]
    • If you’re using a bag to store the pears, push out as much air as possible to limit browning and freezer burn.
    • Label the bag or container with the date and name of the fruit so you’ll be able to quickly identify what it is and how long its been in your freezer.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Store Pears
    Lay the bags or containers flat to thoroughly freeze the fruit evenly. The freezer temperature should be 0 °F (−18 °C) or below. [13]
    • Properly frozen pears can last 10-12 months. [14]
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What month is OK to remove pears from the tree?
    Community Answer
    Seasonal harvest times. In mild climates, including U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 10, pear harvest usually occurs between early August and late September, depending on the pear variety and weather patterns. Aurora, Bartlett and Bennett are usually the first pears to mature.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Can I use the pear-treating solution multiple times?
    Michele
    Top Answerer
    Yes. You can definitely reuse the solution for pre-treating more pears or apples or other fruits that tend to turn brown from oxygenation.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tell if Milk is Bad
      How to
      Store Fresh Turmeric
      How to
      Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh
      How to
      Buy a Good Avocado
      Easy Ways to Store Onions to Make Them Last Longer
      How to
      Identify Food Grade Buckets
      How Long Do Olives Last? (And How to Tell If They’ve Gone Bad)
      How to
      Store Cut Sweet Potatoes
      How to
      Select and Store Pomegranates
      How to
      Store Meringues
      How to
      Ferment Fruit
      How to
      Freeze Lemons
      How to
      Use a Butter Bell
      How to
      Store Biscuits
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Sasha Reyes .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-pick-pears
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/what-room-temperature-means-kitchen-facts-216648
      3. ↑ https://www.eatbydate.com/fruits/fresh/pears/
      4. ↑ https://www.eatbydate.com/fruits/fresh/pears/
      5. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm093704.htm
      6. ↑ https://www.eatbydate.com/fruits/fresh/pears/
      7. ↑ https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/how-harvest-ripen-and-store-pears
      8. ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/pear.html
      9. ↑ https://extension.psu.edu/preserving-pears
      1. ↑ https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5349
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/food-science-what-is-freezer-b-62927
      3. ↑ https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Cooking-Food-Preparation/How-to-store-fruit-to-keep-them-fresh.aspx
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/the-right-temperature-for-your-freezer-quick-kitchen-facts-216070
      5. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17934

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To store pears, keep them in the fridge so they last 1-2 weeks longer. If you've already cut up the pears, put the pieces in a sealable bag before refrigerating them. To store pears for several months, cut them into quarters, halves, or slices and soak them in water with a pinch of salt for 5 minutes. After you soak the pears, put them on a lined baking sheet and freeze them for a few hours. Finally, transfer the pears to freezer bags and store them in the freezer for 10-12 months. To learn how to check if your pears are ripe and ready to be stored, keep reading the article!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 86,273 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement